Una Furtiva Lagrima - Enrico Caruso 1904 and 1911

Caruso recorded Una furtiva lagrima three times. Here are the recordings from 1904 and 1911.
The first recording from 1902 - see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH143YusyGQ

More Caruso info on my website: http://www.enricocaruso.dk

Una furtiva lagrima (A furtive tear) is the romanza from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti. It is sung by Nemorino (Caruso) when he finds that the love potion he bought to win his dream lady's heart, Adina, works.

Nemorino is in love with Adina, but she isn't interested in a relationship with an innocent, rustic man. To win her heart, Nemorino buys a "love potion" with all the money he has in his pocket. The "love potion" is actually a cheap red wine sold by a con business traveler. But when he sees Adina weeping, he knows that she has fallen in love with him and the "Elixir" works.

Caruso created the role of Nemorino the first time in February 1901 at La Scala in Milan. The conductor was the famous Toscanini, but the notoriously critical and reserved audience of La Scala did not react at all ... until Caruso started singing - and he basically turned the performance from failure to success. The audience went wild and Caruso was compelled to repeat "Una furtiva lagrima" three times.

When Toscanini came back stage to go before the curtain with the artists, he embraced Caruso, then turned to the manager of La Scala, Giulio Gatti-Casazza, and said: "Per dio! Se questo Napoletano continua a cantare così, farà parlare di sè il mondo intero." (By Heaven! If this Neapolitan continues to sing like this, he will make the whole world talk about him.)

Text Italian:

Una furtiva lagrima
Negli occhi suoi spunto:
Quelle festose giovani
Invidiar sembro.
Che piu cercando io vo?
Che piu cercando io vo?
M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo, lo vedo.
Un solo instante i palpiti
Del suo bel cor sentir!
I miei sospir, confondere
Per poco a' suoi sospir!
I palpiti, i palpiti sentir,
Confondere i miei coi suoi sospir
Cielo, si puo morir!
Di piu non chiedo, non chiedo.
Ah! Cielo, si puo, si puo morir,
Di piu non chiedo, non chiedo.
Si puo morir, si puo morir d'amor.

English translation:

A secret tear appeared in her eye.
She seemed to envy those happy girls.
For more could I ask?
She loves me, I see it.
To feel the beating of her beautiful heart for just one moment!
To mingle my sighs with hers for just at moment!
Heavens, I could die now, I need nothing more!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• italian
• opera
• L'elisir
• d'amore
• Gaetano
• Donizetti
• caruso

[psyxysp]

I really like the 1904 recording. Where did you get it? I've been searching for a cd that has this version on it, but I haven't found it.

[tomfroekjaer]

@psyxysp This is from "Naxos The Complete Caruso." the 1904 version is found on vol.2.

Google these:

CARUSO, Enrico: Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (1903-1906)

RCA The Complete Caruso

Prima Voce The Early Recordings with Enrico Caruso

Digital restoration with modern orchestration (see my upload) - google:

Enrico Caruso the digital comeback

Best regards, Tom

[tomfroekjaer]

@psyxysp Forgot one. It's also available on the soundtrack to the Woody Allen film "Match Point"

[Nello7]

The 1904 recording, in my opinion, is the single greatest recording of singing in the history of recording. Yes, I realize that it is a bold statement to make, but if one can recognize just how prescient Caruso was in his intent of emotional output and fluidity of technique, you can realize that this was a once in a lifetime achievement. Not to mention, this was sung in ONE TAKE!!!!!

[tomfroekjaer]

@Nello7 I tend to agree with you that the 1904 recording may be the greatest recording of the tenor voice ever made.

[pearlmuth3]

I like the 1904 even better for this role which needs a lyric tenor and his voice was more lyric, thats why tenors like Schipa and later in our time Pavoratti had great success with the role, too and Bergonzi. many tenors sing it like it;s Chenier . The sound may be better on the 1911 of course and both good.

[IlgruppoDiDocci]

Fantastico. Caruso è chi presenta il cambio del piano per l'arpa

[MrGer2295]

SUBLIME!!! Thank you my friend for sharing this Wonderful video of Great Performance of ENRICO CARUSO (1873-1921).

[wiseroldfart]

@Nello7 I said as much on the remastered 1904 recording I heard before finding this one. Even thought the remastered job doesn't do Caruso's voice justice, I realized that it was the single best performance I've ever heard by a tenor. I believe this is what Bel Canto singing was meant to be. Though not perfectly sung, it's a masterful display of complexity and raw talent.

[thedukeofjazz]

love the popcorn in the recording

[psyxysp]

@tomfroekjaer I didn't know that. Thanks!

[OperaFanCantor]

Tom, thank you very much for that very interesting comparison. The legendary 1904 remains hands down my personal favorite. I also prefer the much slower tempo of 1904: 4:33 of singing versus 3:38 in 1911.